The 2411 Project

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Deer Valley Ranch 2016

In the fall of 2015 Project 2411 Ministries registered as a legitimate not-for-profit Christian ministry. We have prayed through and installed a tremendous board of directors to assist us in our launch year and beyond. Once we completed all of our necessary front office prerequisites, we began working on our next very big adventure. Late this past summer, we began discussions around the opportunity to acquire ownership of an existing Christian family western guest ranch with a rich history of ministering to families and a strong legacy for adventure. Deer Valley Ranch, a western family dude ranch, located in Buena Vista, Colorado was originally established in 1954 and sits on 123 incredible acres at the base of Mount Princeton. Deer Valley Ranch or “DVR” has a rich history and many established traditions, all focused towards building community, strengthening families and encouraging leadership. Deer Valley Ranch will allow us as a ministry to continue the rich traditions already established at DVR each summer and give us the ability to create a much needed location to establish the “Base Camp” for all of the Project’s retreats and expeditions.

As we launched the ministry in 2015 and began as a leadership team to explore ways to create the adventure and community needed for families today, Deer Valley Ranch became available for consideration. After spending a few summers getting to know the current owners of the ranch and spending time with their families and the staff, both Shannon and myself became convinced this was the next step in the journey God has had us on. The only problem with God sized visions, God sometimes brings the “cart” before the “horse” with regards to the financials and we are relying on God’s continued provision to allow Deer Valley Ranch to continue an amazing legacy of leading and growing families and to create a much needed platform for Project 2411 Ministries to operate.

This is a giant leap of faith, one that myself along with the current board of directors of the Project are certainly aware of. I am writing this first newsletter of the year to inform those that are close to us as a family and a ministry. I have received many inquiries as to what is next regarding the “Project” for 2016. Our goal as a ministry is quite simple this year, first we are committed to continuing to establish incredible opportunities for families, individuals and corporations to experience Jesus utilizing the wilderness of Colorado as our primary platform. Our leadership team will be meeting to finalize the fall 2016 and spring 2017 list of expeditions and our goal will be to create specific corporate and individual adventures for you to join us on. Secondly, we are working on the creation a specific leadership and spiritual formation curriculum that will be utilized and customized for each group and expedition we organize. This curriculum will not just inform but truly transform an individual body, soul and spirit. Lastly, and certainly not the least is to finalize the transaction of Deer Valley Ranch. Currently we are under contract to purchase the ranch with an expected close date of early spring 2016.